It’s spring, and your house/apartment/living quarters are filthy. The bathroom is awash in soap scum, the stove is coated with remnants of meals past, and who knows what’s lurking under those couch cushions. Unfortunately, the technology boom of the last few decades has left us with one more mess we need to clean up – our computers. Documents strewn across the desktop, spyware stuck in unseen nooks and crannies, and other filthy things need tidying. Might as well get on it now while you get the rest of your house in order.

Before you get into the innards of your computer, handle the physical stuff first. In other words, grab a can of compressed air and a wet cloth, and go nuts. The keyboard is the most obvious (and nastiest) resting place of crumbs and other undesirables, but don’t forget to give your printer a few puffs to prevent future paper jams. Water on a cloth should do fine for your computer and smartphone screens – they don’t take too kindly to Windex. That said you might want to keep your printer dry. Last, but definitely not least, wipe your mouse down. It’s easy to forget about that part, but take a good look at your mouse sometime, and you might just be horrified by what you find. Those things can get nasty.

Smart timeNews from and energy-saving tips for every room in the house – Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Posted: Apr. 28, 2012 | 1:10 a.m.Updated: Apr. 28, 2012 | 3:20 a.m.

Keeping your home beautiful, organized and running smoothly is a never-ending task. The chores from the kitchen unfold into the dining room, which spills into the living room, the bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry room and beyond. Once you’ve added it all up, the amount of time and energy you spend on housework – day to day and year to year – is staggering.

If you feel like your schedule is overloaded – and who doesn’t? – prioritizing time-saving solutions can free up some much-needed time for hobbies, relaxing and spending time with family and friends. “Once you discover new, more efficient ways to accomplish your everyday routine, it’ll be hard to imagine how you ever did it before,” says Kimberly Nies, home economist for LG Electronics USA.

To get started, Nies offers a few pointers, intended to give you a jump-start on getting your whole house in order, room by room. With some simple ingenuity and quick tips for getting the most out of your minutes, you can cut down the time you spend on everyday tasks.

* In the kitchen: Don’t do dishes twice. The kitchen is always a hub of activity, from meal prep to meal clean-up, and the whole process can take hours if you don’t take an efficient approach. The first change you can make: Stop w…………… continues on and energy-saving tips for every room in the house – Las Vegas Review-Journal

A friend of mine sent me a Facebook message earlier this week asking for my recipe for homemade laundry detergent.

We were chatting about how we both are trying to take it easier on Mother Nature and attempting to move our families to a less chemical and preservative-filled existence, and I thought, “Voilà! My Moms Talk column this week is born!”

After all, part of being a good mom is making sure our kids don’t grow up in a toxic world.

There seems to be a growing trend toward going green in our country. The number of more natural products stocking the supermarket shelves is continually expanding, and almost every big food retailer now has an organic section.

It makes my crunchy granola hippie in my heart happy to see these changes, and I wish more families would embrace them.

In my family, we try to do simple things to reduce the size of our carbon footprint and make the foods and products we use healthier and better for us.

We recycle, we are water-waste conscious, we use real dishes instead of paper and plastic. I buy organic meats, veggies and dairy products, and I try really hard to buy as much fresh food and make as many things from scratch as I can to avoid preservatives and chemicals in our foods.

I’ve tried to do away with harsh chemicals for house cleaning. If I don’t make it myself, I buy the natural,…………… continues on Patch.com

Published: Friday, April 27, 2012 at 11:03 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 27, 2012 at 11:03 a.m.

A ministerial class, “New Age Outreach and Media Ministry,” is scheduled from 12:30 to 3 p.m. May 11 at Shekinah Glory Christian Fellowship Church, 10164 N. Line St., St. James. The Rev. Jasper Williams Jr. of Salem Bible Church in Atlanta is the class’s intructor. Registration costs $ 25 and lunch is included. To register, visit www.sgcfc.com or call 225-257-4443.

IGNITE, a community outreach event featuring live music by More Than Sunday, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 19 in Courthouse Square in downtown Houma. The free event is organized by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Office of New Evangelization. Bishop Sam Jacobs and the Office of New Evangelization’s director, Tim Bogan, will deliver a message to participants.

Officials with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are looking for volunteers for Steubenville on the Bayou to assist during the conference scheduled for June 15-17 at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd. Adults 21 or older and who have up-to-date safe-environment training can serve in various capacities, including ushering, serving meals and crowd traffic. Volunteers are also needed to assist with first aid. For information, visit www.steubenvilleonthebayou.com.

You may be almost done with the typical spring cleaning chores, such as organizing your closets, but how about detoxing your diet to spring clean your health?

This is not about expensive cleanses that may be harmful to your bodies with short-lived results. By making healthy changes to your diet, such as the ones suggested below by CalorieCount.com Director of Nutrition Rachel Berman, you can detox naturally and enjoy a healthier spring and summer.

Foods to add to your diet:

* Leafy greens such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale contain cancer fighting compounds called glucosinolates. They are also a great source of calcium, which is important for muscle contraction and therefore can improve the “spring in your step.” Frozen veggies often can be even more nutritious than fresh since they are frozen at the peak of ripeness.

* Citrus fruits are loaded with soluble fiber. This type of fiber increases the amount of healthy bacteria in your colon to help flush out toxins from your system. They are also loaded with immune boosting nutrients and antioxidants such as vitamin C, which can improve the health of your skin. Choose the…………… continues on phillyBurbs.com

Having a pet means having to deal with its hair and the allergens it holds on a regular basis. In the spring, as dogs and cats shed, this problem can take on epic proportions. That is why the experts at Dander and Daughters professional carpet cleaning would like to offer some pointers on how to reduce the amount of pet hair and dirt in the house during the spring months without banishing the beloved family friend to the basement.

Shedding gets worse for both cats and dogs because their coats are preparing for the warmer summer months. The often dramatic increase in hair and dander can have you adding your own follicles out of frustration. The fact is that as the amount of pet hair on the carpet increases, its very nature changes, requiring more severe measures to eradicate it.

Frequent Grooming

The first step is to take care of the hair at its source… the pet itself. Brushing your dog or cat frequently helps to remove the hair to be shed in a controlled manner. It is really good for pets to be groomed because it removes potentially painful tangles,…………… continues on Seattle Post Intelligencer

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It’s time for spring cleaning, but before you pull out the spray bottles and solvents, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) say you should double-check what you’re using to sanitize.

On Tuesday, the EWG, a non-profit public-health advocacy in Washington, D.C., released its “Cleaners Hall of Shame” — a list of popular cleaning supplies that may potentially pose a hazard to your health.

According to the EWG’s research team, which consists of toxicologists, chemists, public health officials and lawyers, many common household cleaners that claim to be safe or non-toxic could be harmful, especially to kids who might ingest them or breathe in their fumes. Many products contain ingredients that have been banned in other countries for links to ailments including blindness and cancer, according to the EWG, and others have been “greenwashed,” meaning that contrary to their marketing claims, they are not actually environmentally friendly. Other products simply do not offer enough information about their ingredients to make an informed judgment about their safety, the EWG said.

Sadly, many of the sweet-smelling, bubbly concoctions we use to clean our homes are poisonous if ingested and can be harmful if inhaled or even touched.

It’s a disturbing thought: The very things you are using to make your house sparkle and shine are actually making it toxic. But more and more Americans are starting to make the shift to cleaners that are more environmentally friendly.

It is time we all made the shift and eliminated cleaning toxins from our homes. To help you make the change, we’ve done some research and gone on the hunt for affordable “green” alternatives and listed them for you here.

The top four toxic compounds to avoid

1. Drain, oven and toilet cleaners containing ammonia or chlorine bleach. By far the most acutely dangerous products are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acidic toilet cleaners. Corrosive agents can cause severe burns to the skin, eyes and esophagus. These items also typically contain chlorine bleach and ammonia, which not only have highly irritating fumes but also combine with other chemicals to produce lung-damaging gasses, such as chlorine gas.

2. Laundry detergents, disinfectants, laundry stain removers and citrus cleaners/degreasers. These products often contain a class of chemicals called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). Because they disappear down the drain, they get into our water……………. continues on Taunton Daily Gazette

Before the days of powerful vacuum cleaners and supermarket sprays, our grandmothers cleaned their homes in a much simpler way. Not only did they have to make do and mend when it came to household cleaning products, but sooty fires and cooking ranges also made homes dirtier than they are today.

As concerns about the potential damage that chemicals can do to our health and the environment grow, more people are ditching the powerful synthetics and looking to yesteryear for cleaning tips. It’s time to stock up on vinegar, newspaper, hot water and plenty of elbow grease.

One cleaning expert inspired by the past is Lawrence Roullier White, the founder of Roullier White, a London-based boutique that sells, among other things, a range of natural cleaning products named after his late great grandmother, Mrs White.

“She spent all her teenage years in service as a housemaid, then worked as a cook,” explains Lawrence. “She collected tips, recipes and remedies, notions and potions. When she died, her household cleaning tips – which she had scribbled down over the years and tucked inside notebooks – were inherited by my great aunt, then passed on to me.”

Lawrence has tweaked a few of her recipes for cleaning products, but Mrs White’s ideas and principles are still relevant today. “Her laundry soap was made with lard – meat fat,” chuckles Lawrence. “Today…………… continues on The National

Spring cleaning isn’t just about de-cluttering your home and cleaning out your closets–it should also include getting your health in order.

“This time of year you are exposed to allergies; people are getting out more and many of us are on the verge of traveling season,” says WebMD.com’s Lead Medical Editor, Dr. Brunilda Nazario. “The idea of a spring checkup is right on the mark for seasonal reasons.”

While people should be focused on their health year round, spring is a prime time for a checkup. We tend to be more active as the weather warms, and the summer heat can put us at risk for heat struck and bug-borne illnesses.

Here are three items to add to your spring cleaning to-do list to help better your health.

Get a Physical

Before you join the softball team or go for a run in the woods, experts says it pays to see your doctor to make sure you’re healthy enough to engage in physical activity.

A physical exam is a simple way to identify any problems and make sure you are prepare for the increased activity that usually happens in the spring and summer.

Schedule an appointment for a physical exam with your primary-care physician to have your vitals checked, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate and temperature. Your doctor will also listen to your heart, exam your lungs and check your he…………… continues on Fox Business

In our household, spring-cleaning is often inspired by those first days of springtime sun when I discover the cobwebs and dust bunnies that have been hiding in the shadows all winter. It’s amazing what a little light can expose. Spring-cleaning our diets can happen the same way: When you look a little closer, you often find that your food contains ingredients with unwanted genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I hope these spring-cleaning tips help you find new ways to nourish your family with healthy non-GMO foods.

GMOs are plants or animals created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology. These are organisms that would never occur naturally in nature. There are many risks associated with GMOs, but I keep them out of my home because I have no interest in feeding my family experimental foods. I feel very unsettled about the studies showing potential long-term health consequences from the consumption of GMOs–there is so much that we don’t know about these engineered “foods.” I also believe that one of the most powerful things I can do as a consumer is to vote with my wallet. Why wo…………… continues on Huffington Post

Marcus and Erin Meyer, with Gator Cleaning Solutions , strive for professional results that are also environmentally friendly.

They shared some of their top tips with ABC Action News.

Chalk: Treating a grease stain with a plain white piece of chalk prior to washing will help release the stain. The chalk absorbs the grease, whether it’s lipstick or juice from your latest crock pot creation.

Grapefruit Bath Wash: Simply halve a grapefruit and coat it with kosher salt. Sprinkle about another 1/4 cup of salt around the tub or shower and rub fruit in circular motion. The grime will quickly disappear leaving your tub sparkling and smelling delightful!

Pumice Stone: Pumice stones are not only great on our worn feet, but do magic on the hard water rings found in sinks, tubs and toilets. A very inexpensive and effective solution to a common cleaning headache.

Herbs and Essential Oils: What a great use for your leftover herbs – to mix them with baking soda to create a wonderful laundry freshener. Add 4 drops of essential oils or a handful of fresh herb leaves of your choice (like basil) and let sit in a plastic container for one to two weeks and then simply add 1/2 cup to each load of laundry. It’s…………… continues on ABC Action News

Elizabeth Lara

Food at farmers markets usually involve less of a carbon footprint and use fewer, if any, pesticides.

Here are 10 ways New Yorkers can reduce their environmental impact without reducing their quality of life.

1. Cut down on the “vampire effect.” Even when not turned on, an electronic appliance that is plugged into a power source still draws energy. “The Department of Energy estimates that America wastes 5% of electricity on the vampire effect,” says Josh Dorfman, author and host of the television show “The Lazy Environmentalist.” “That’s a lot of wasted energy and money.” We could unplug all of our electronics every time they are not in use, but that’s annoying. Dorfman suggests using devices like Belkin’s Conserve Energy-Saving Products that automatically eliminate the vampire effect.

2. Buy food from farmers’ markets. “The carbon impact of transportation is reduced,” says author and eco-expert Alexandra Zissu, 37. “These small farms use their land more efficiently. And, if the food is organic, which it almost always is, no chemical pesticides wi…………… continues on New York Daily News

Earth Day 2012: Tips to help your family go green this yearNews from Christian Science Monitor:

Earth Day 2012: A handy list of tips and tricks to help your family go green this year, from gardening to recycling.

Earth Day inspires and brings out different feelings, emotions and actions in each of us. We wanted to share with you some of our favorite Climate Mamas and Papas suggestions for Earth Day “to dos.” You may want to adopt some of these ideas and put them on your list of favorite family activities – for Earth Day or any day. All us Climate Mamas and Papas know that every day is and should be Earth Day!

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Harriett Shugarman

Guest Blogger

Harriet is the executive director and founder of continues on Christian Science Monitor

The pollen is starting to thin out, so it’s time to get out the sponges and elbow grease and tackle the spring cleaning. These tips should make it a bit easier:

1. Sanitize your microwave and easily remove food residue by placing a bowl of white vinegar in the microwave and running it for one minute. Wipe down using soapy water.

2. Freshen up your carpets by sprinkling baking soda over them. Allow to sit overnight and then vacuum.

3. In the bathroom, grab some non-gel toothpaste, put a thin layer on your chrome faucets and then wipe off with a soft cloth.

4. Save money by using only the recommended amount of your cleaners. This is especially true of laundry detergent. Don’t just pour; use the cap to measure. With most laundry detergents, you do not have to fill the cap to the top.

5. Clean your windows with crumpled-up newspaper instead of paper towels. Wipe the inside panes vertically and the outdoor panes horizontally so you can easily see streaks.

6. Clean your shower curtain liner by throwing it into the washing machine with a few towels and wash with hot water. If you decide to replace the liner, hang on to the old one and use it in the yard as a tarp. It’s quite handy when raking leaves.

7. After cleaning your shower, spray it with furniture polish to repel dirt and water.